The Metropolis of San Francisco Gala was held on October 13, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, California. It was an evening filled with joy and Christian love in celebration of the ministries of the Metropolis of San Francisco and honoring the extraordinary leadership of Dr. James and Virginia Kallins. Under the leadership of Demo and Chrissie Zeppos, the Gala Committee worked diligently to make this event a shining success for the Metropolis and provide support for the ongoing growth and development of its thirteen innovative and distinct ministries.
In his Keynote Address at the Gala, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos commented, “Tonight is a celebration on many levels. First and foremost, we celebrate our faith in God, our common heritage, and our love for serving others. We also celebrate the accomplishments and extraordinary leadership of Dr. James and Virginia Kallins, for their lifetime of service and stewardship. This Gala also provides us with the opportunity to share with you the good works of our Metropolis, and how we are living out our calling as faithful Greek Orthodox Christians. Through your support, we will continue building up our Ministries so that all of you, and especially the young people here tonight, will be empowered in the faith, inspired in their work, and sustained by God’s love and compassion.”
Dr. James and Virginia Kallins were presented with the 2018 Theofanis Economidis Award in recognition of their years of service and their legacy of generosity. The Kallins’ have been ardent supporters of the Metropolis, Archdiocese and Ecumenical Patriarchate. As an Archon in the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Dr. Kallins has served as a Regional Archon Commander for the Metropolis, coordinating several events to heighten the awareness of the struggle for religious freedom by our Mother Church. He has also served on the Metropolis and Archdiocesan Councils, and as the Supreme President of the Pan-Arcadian Federation. Dr. and Mrs. Kallins are also members of Leadership 100. The ministry of Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center was especially blessed by the generosity of the Kallins family in more recent years as they donated two full-size basketball courts which have added many opportunities for expanded sports programs. In addition, the family has generously supported the development of the Our Greek Village camp – To Elliniko Horio – at Saint Nicholas Ranch since its inception in 2010. Dr. and Mrs. Kallins were also honored with the Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award at the Folk Dance and Choral Festival in 2013.
Special greetings during the Gala included a video message to Dr. James and Virginia Kallins from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and tribute letters from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, and Leadership 100. A special musical tribute was featured during the Gala with an original composition written and performed by Nia Christiana Matty, the Kallins’ granddaughter who is an aspiring singer-songwriter studying at the University of Southern California.
The elegantly decorated ballroom was filled to capacity with nearly 450 people in attendance to honor the Kallins and show their support of the Metropolis. The program was most capably led by brothers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides as Masters of Ceremony, a writing team that have projects in development at Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Mandate Pictures. Their first produced studio film, Immortals, opened up at number one at the worldwide box office and earned over $250 million dollars globally. The Parlapanides brothers have also recently segued into television and sold original pitches to ABC, CBS, FOX, A&E and Netflix.
Major sponsors for the Gala included: the Kallins Family, George and Judy Marcus Family Foundation, Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas, and Angelo K. and Sofia Tsakopoulos Family. Guests enjoyed dancing at the conclusion of the Gala to the sounds of the Greek Rebetiko Trio and vocalist Andrea Charls.
Proceeds from the Gala will support the ongoing development and expansion of the ministries which have been cultivated through the Metropolis Strategic Plan that was initiated in 2012. This effort has brought forth a more comprehensive and visionary infrastructure to provide meaningful and relevant ministries for the clergy and faithful of the Metropolis which has been realized through funding support from the Gala and other special initiatives in the Metropolis. For more information on the vibrant ministries of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, please visit sanfran.goarch.org/ministries.
PHOTO CREDIT: Allen Altchech Photography